Transforming Lives: Jesus at the Heart of Community

The story of Church at Barking Riverside began not with a grand plan, but with a series of small steps of obedience, listening, and prayer. Anna and I never intended to leave our comfortable life in Loughton, but as we explored the idea of starting a new worshipping community in Barking Riverside, God stirred our hearts. Each step forward brought new confirmation that this was His calling for us. Our vision, however, is not simply to start another church or run great programs. Instead, we long to see the UK thriving, with Jesus at the heart of every person and every place—beginning right here in Barking Riverside.

This vision is rooted in the story of God throughout the Bible. From the very beginning, God’s overflowing love led Him to create people and places to fill with His presence. Though humanity turned away, God’s purpose has always been to restore and bring life. Jesus came to offer life in all its fullness, not just for individuals, but for communities and nations. He invites all who are thirsty to come to Him, promising to pour living water into us—so much so that it overflows into the world around us.

Thriving, as Jesus defines it, is not about possessions, status, or comfort. It’s about having Jesus at the centre of our hearts, allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. This transformation produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and all the fruits of the Spirit, regardless of our circumstances. Even in suffering or struggle, life with Jesus is richer and more meaningful than anything we could achieve on our own.

God’s purpose is not just for us to receive this life, but to share it. Jesus sends His followers to every person and every place, to bring His kingdom—His way of life—wherever we go. The church is not a building or a Sunday event, but a people who have encountered Jesus, been changed by Him, and are committed to bringing His life to others. Our core values reflect this: dependence on God, passion for people, and daring to make a difference. Together, we seek to become these kinds of people, supporting and encouraging one another as we join in God’s work in our community and beyond.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s vision for us is far greater than simply attending church or running programs; it is about seeing every person and every place transformed by the life of Jesus. This requires us to listen deeply to God and to our community, discerning where He is already at work and joining Him there, rather than relying on our own plans or ambitions. [03:29]
• 2. The invitation of Jesus is for all who are thirsty—those who know they need more, who are broken, wounded, or simply aware that life could be fuller. He promises not just to satisfy our thirst, but to fill us so abundantly with His life that it overflows to others, bringing transformation to our families, workplaces, and neighbourhoods. [06:11]
• 3. The biblical story reveals that God’s heart has always been to dwell with His people and to see them thrive. Even when humanity turned away, God’s relentless love pursued restoration, culminating in Jesus, who offers us life in all its fullness and calls us to participate in His ongoing work of renewal. [09:35]
• 4. True thriving is not measured by external success or comfort, but by the presence of Jesus at the centre of our lives. When we surrender to Him, He transforms our hearts, producing the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, and more—regardless of our circumstances. This kind of life is a gift, not something we can earn or manufacture. [13:13]
• 5. Our calling is not only to receive this life, but to share it. Jesus commissions us to go to every person and every place, bringing His kingdom and inviting others to experience the same transformation. The church is defined by people who are dependent on God, passionate about others, and courageous enough to make a difference together. [17:11]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:11] - Meet the Leaders and Community Introduction
• [01:10] - Purpose of Sunday at Six and Vision Overview
• [01:47] - Our Story: From Loughton to Barking Riverside
• [03:29] - Rethinking Church: Beyond Buildings and Programs
• [04:26] - Vision Statement: Thriving with Jesus at the Heart
• [05:09] - Listening to God in Barking Riverside
• [05:45] - Jesus’ Invitation: Streams of Living Water
• [07:17] - Transformation Beyond the Church Walls
• [08:13] - God’s Purpose and the Story of the Bible
• [09:35] - Creation, Brokenness, and God’s Restoring Love
• [11:20] - Jesus Brings Fullness of Life
• [13:13] - What It Means to Truly Thrive
• [15:24] - Jesus Changes Us from the Inside Out
• [16:26] - This Life is for Everyone, Everywhere
• [17:11] - Our Mission: Sharing Life and Making a Difference
• [19:47] - Core Values and Becoming the Church
• [20:56] - Invitation to Connect and Next Steps

Bible Reading

John 7:37-38 (ESV) — > On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

Luke 4:18-19 (ESV) — > “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) — > But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Observation Questions

1. In John 7:37-38, what does Jesus promise to those who are thirsty and come to Him?
2. According to Luke 4:18-19, what are some of the things Jesus says He has come to do?
3. What are the “fruits of the Spirit” listed in Galatians 5:22-23?
4. In the sermon, what was the vision for Barking Riverside described as being “beyond just starting a church”? ([03:29])

Interpretation Questions

1. What does it mean to be “thirsty” in the way Jesus describes in John 7? How might this look in someone’s life today?
2. The sermon says that thriving is not about possessions, status, or comfort, but about having Jesus at the centre. Why do you think this is so important? ([13:13])
3. How does the biblical story show God’s desire to dwell with His people and see them thrive, even after humanity turned away? ([09:35])
4. The sermon talks about the church as people who have encountered Jesus and are changed by Him, not just a building or event. What difference does this make in how we think about church? ([19:04])

Application Questions

1. The sermon describes taking “small steps of obedience, listening, and prayer” before moving to Barking Riverside. Is there an area in your life where you sense God prompting you to take a small step? What might that look like this week? ([02:32])
2. Jesus invites “all who are thirsty” to come to Him. In what ways do you feel spiritually thirsty right now? What would it look like for you to bring that thirst to Jesus? ([06:11])
3. The vision is to see “Jesus at the heart of every person and every place.” Think about your workplace, family, or neighbourhood—what is one practical way you could bring the life of Jesus into that space this month? ([07:29])
4. The sermon says that true thriving is about Jesus transforming us from the inside out, producing the fruit of the Spirit. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.). What is a specific situation where you want to see that fruit grow in your life? ([15:47])
5. The church is described as people who are “dependent on God, passionate about others, and daring to make a difference.” Which of these three values do you find most challenging? Why? ([20:02])
6. The sermon challenges us to listen deeply to God and our community, discerning where He is already at work. What is one way you could listen more intentionally to God or to people around you this week? ([05:09])
7. Jesus sends His followers to “every person and every place.” Who is one person in your life who might need to experience the life of Jesus? How could you reach out to them in the coming days? ([17:11])